"Reading Rainbow" and the world...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112312561

That is an article for you to read if you'd like. It's about "Reading Rainbow" and the fact that it will no longer be on TV. Apparently, teaching kids to love books is no longer important. Rather, they should only learn HOW to read.

This is the whole problem with education, and at least I can give the IB program that little bit of credit. Education seems to be leaning more and more to HOW HOW HOW, and not the why. What does it matter if you know how to play music but not why? If music becomes only the dots on the page, it is boring and emotionless, and the whole point is that music expresses that which words cannot.

If we know HOW to pray, but not why, what is the point? Anyone can kneel and fold their hands, but if you don't know why you get on your knees, and why you pray to God, what is the point? I'm all for knowing how. How is an important thing. It is something that is lacking at times, too. As I reflect on my life in church, it seems that people are often taught to pray. We are taught to thank God. To pray for our friends and family, for those who are hurting, and for the needs around us. But then, do we remember why? That we want to thank God for all that He has given us. That we want to open the roads of communication with our Saviour.

Just something that is going through my head as I look at that article. And as I think about teachers around me who teach the WHY and then not the HOW. there is a huge balance, and I feel that by letting "Reading Rainbow" go, we are losing one side of the scale. How and why go hand in hand and cannot truly exist exclusively.

Enough for tonight. It's time for bed. I love you all. Please pray for me as I'm going through some tough times at the moment and I'm resting in the assurance that God tests us all to make us stronger, just like steel that is tested to its limits, so must I be tested in order to become strong in Christ. It is all for a reason, and I don't know what that reason is yet, but I have faith that it will all work out.

<3

Realizations...

One of the goals in my life is to go to every continent and do something worthwhile during my time there. I don't like to travel for travels sake. Never have. I like to do things, see things, learn things. Some of my friends are part of what's called The World Race. It's 11 months in 11 different countries doing mission work in different ways. When I heard about it, I was very interested. It's very expensive, but if it was meant to happen, it would... but then, today, as I was reading a friend's blog, and thinking about if I would ever do something like that, I realized that I'm more of a long term person. If I were doing something like that, I'd want to spend much longer than a month in each place. I'd really want to settle somewhere. A few weeks ago, I started looking at those around the world plane tickets. However, they're really complicated because you make some amazing itinerary, but then you can't get from place to place without back tracking and losing miles... It's frustrating. I think it would be fun to save up money and just leave for a while and go where ever God leads me. Whether that is to Korea, Mongolia, Zambia, Israel... wherever... I just think that sounds wildly entertaining! But then, sometimes I just don't know. There are so many things to do in the world and it seems that there is never enough time or money to do them.

Pastor R* and I were talking about that today. In reference to the movie "up". (yes it's a cartoon). I haven't watched it yet, but he said it was about a man who, when he realized he was alone (his wife died or something), went on these grand adventures. Why do we wait until times like that to do what we've always wanted to do? Frankly, I don't like being tied down. I want to be able to do the things that are all over the world. I want to meet people and forge relationships with people from other cultures. I want to experience their culture and learn and grow alongside them. It's interesting to me, because last year, when we were in that village in Bangalore, I could see myself living there and getting to know the children and their parents, and in that week, began to form the foundations for what could have grown into much more. That kind of thing excites me...

but now the question... where does this put me for my life? where does this mean I'm going? AHH

Snow Leopard...

Okay, so, most of you know that I'm a computer geek, have been for a while. Worked IT all through college, and when my computer crashed in New Zealand, I thought I would get a Mac when I returned home. Upon my return, I found Macs to be too expensive for my poor, college self, and that most of the software I needed was not yet Mac compatible.

Now, however, the case is different. I have desperately wanted a Mac since Leopard came out, and in a few days, they are releasing Snow Leopard (the lastest OS X). I find myself badly wanting a Mac. That's okay. Maybe next year.

I always have something great in my head, but then power goes out, so you'll have to wait for another time.

Sick on a Sunday...

So, I took Saturday, and went to the store and then relaxed in the sun and read... it was a good day... Unfortunately, I was sick all of last night, and now I'm sitting at home without energy to get up. It's really not fun.

But otherwise, we've finished the fourth cycle of school. There are still challenges, and people trying to mess with schedules, but that's okay. The school is still on lockdown against the swine flu. It's special. RSM is coming up in about two months, and I'm working hard with my students to make sure they're prepared.

It's really interesting this semester because I haven't truly searched out ways to be more involved, and things have just come my way. I wish I could go into more detail, but I won't right now.

I should probably go rest some more. Tomorrow begins another week.

Get out of my town!!

First, Jai Hind!!! Saturday was Independence day for India and Korea... it was a day full of celebrations, as always. Friday was also St. Mary's day, so there were many celebrations for that as well.

With celebrations, come tourists! They are very annoying. As I was getting ready to leave campus on Saturday, a bus drove by while I was talking to someone, and of course, they see a white woman in a sari and think it's bizarre so they must wave... And wave they did. An entire bus waved to me... kind of odd. But it's really aggravating when you just want to run your normal errands and you can't because there are too many tourists around. And of course, with everything else going on right now, it's frustrating.

So, yea. Tomorrow is independence day for Indonesia.

The semester is flying by already, and with everyone getting sick, it's not very fun! I'm trying to make things work the best that I can, but sometimes, I just can't seem to do enough. But in a way, I feel that I shouldn't be doing as much as I am.

I don't know if it should be a compliment or an insult, but someone told me the other day "Well, I'm not asking you because I know you won't budge". Of course I won't budge! But do you really think I'm that stubborn? I'm just trying to do what's best for my program and my students. That's all.

Okay, I'm going to go. Happy weekend to everyone and hope you have a great week!

Rejoice!

Habakkuk 3:17-18
Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joyful in God my Saviour.

Times get tough, and it is important to remember to keep moving forward. It seems that the beginnings of my weeks are really hard, and then they get better. This morning, though, as I was doing my morning devotion, this verse hit me hard, and was just what I needed. Times now might be hard, but that is no reason not to rejoice! There is so much good out there, and just because my days are hard doesn't mean I shouldn't enjoy what is good and beautiful around me.

I'm really going to try harder to appreciate the things that surround me, and the beauty that I've been blessed with. When you look up, it's hard to see the pit that seems to be around you, so that's what I will do.

<3

For the day...

1 Corinthians 15:58 (NIV)
Therefore, my dear brothers, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.

Indeed, that is what I need to do. It's funny because I came across this verse doing a quiz on the book of faces. But it suits today and how I feel and what's been going through my mind.

I spent about an hour last night in my house with my fire going, praise music on, reading and practicing the long forgotten Alexander technique (think yoga/relaxation/body-awareness for musicians). It really helped settle me. Before that I had been stressing about work, about life, about how everything is going to work out, etc... but really taking that time last night to be just with myself and God was refreshing.

And then that verse today, just confirms what was going on in my heart last night. Satan was attacking and trying to talk me out of going where God wants me. Sorry, dude, not going to happen.

"Do not be discouraged..."

When I was looking at that verse yesterday, I was reading it in respect to the past. Looking at how everything turns out well in the end.

Today, I'm looking at that verse for encouragement to keep moving forward. I am very discouraged and worn down by my current work situation. Trying to make a band work that has no shot, trying to make a schedule work, that all it does is frustrate me. For some reason, today feels like Monday. Maybe because yesterday I wasn't on main campus at all, but still, it's been a long day already. It frustrates me that "extra" classes are changing my students' schedules STILL and trying to make me change a schedule I worked hard to make manageable. It frustrates me that people are coming to me asking for special permission to let one of their advisees into lessons: the answer is no. It frustrates me that nothing is getting accomplished when it's supposed to. That I've been waiting all day for someone to make a simple phone call and it hasn't happened. It frustrates me that people think it's okay to try to fix a problem AFTER it comes up, when it was brought to your attention earlier. It bothers me that I'm teaching double what "core subject" teachers teach. It bothers me that music is 'valued' here, but does not get the time of day. It frustrates me that people come to me for information that should be coming from my boss. It bothers me that while I am working so hard for my students and this school, there are still people here that don't realize anything they are supposed to do.

And now that I've written this. I'm going to go spend some time in prayer before my next lesson so I don't go insane.

<3

Fear

“Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

As we enter from phase to phase in our lives, it is common to be fearful, terrified and discouraged. But we have to remember that God is always with us. God was with me when I moved here. He was with me as I travelled home this summer, and as I returned for another year. He's with me for every trial he sends my way. He stays by my side even when I forget that He's there.

As doors are opening for new conversations and relationships with people around me, it's easy for me to get scared and forget why I came here. It's easy to try and sit back and pretend that God means nothing in my life. Okay, it's not easy, but it's can be more comfortable to pretend that all I do is teach in my classroom.

But I don't. As students sit in my office and ask me questions, I give answers. Honest answers. Kids always know when we're telling them the truth and they call you on it. Believe me, they do.

So pray with me as God opens new doors and provides opportunities for me.

I miss you all, and love you, and can't wait to see you again. But until then, I will live and work here, and enjoy it. :-)